noun · neutersecond declension
adōnium
adōnium n (genitive adōniī or adōnī)
Classical[aˈdoː.ni.ũː]Ecclesiastical[aˈdɔː.ni.um]
Meaning
- possiblya type of southernwood with a golden or bloodred flower (as if referring to the blood of Adonis)
- possiblya method of gardening
- a Adonic verse, a verse composed of a dactyl and spondee
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | adōnium | adōnia adōnidia |
| genitive | adōniī adōnī, adōnidī, adōnidiī | adōniōrum adōnidiōrum |
| dative | adōniō adōnidiō | adōniīs adōnidiīs |
| accusative | adōnium | adōnia adōnidia |
| ablative | adōniō adōnidiō | adōniīs adōnidiīs |
| vocative | adōnium | adōnia adōnidia |
ădōnĭum, ii, n., = ἀδώνιον.
I. Acc. to some a plant, a species of southernwood, bearing a flower of golden color or bloodred, as if from the blood of Adonis; acc. to others, a mode of cultivating flowers, as if Adonis horti, the garden of Adonis, Plin. 21, 10, 34, § 60.—
II. In gram., the Adonic verse, composed of a dactyl and spondee, ¯˘˘¯¯˘, Serv. 1820 P.; Grot. 2, 104; e. g. Hor. C. 1, 4: terruit urbem; visere montes, etc., said to have been so named because used in the festival of Adonis; also ădōnĭdĭum, Mar. Vict. 2, p. 2518 P.
Origins
From Ancient Greek Ἀδώνιος (Adṓnios, “of Adonis”) and Ἄδωνις (Ádōnis, “Adonis”). The meaning referring to a plant is a misreading in Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia. The meaning referring to meter, μέτρον (métron, “meter”) Ἀδώνιον (Adṓnion), reportedly named for its use in the festival of Adonis.